Box Office: ‘Smile 2’ Grins With $23M Opening, ‘Anora’ Jolts Awards Race Awake

Image Source Google.com

[{"selector":"#anim-b30aa876-640e-47ad-bd8f-6e58d40ecf06","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8f388459-9fdc-4f9c-908a-f255d4c48c1a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-06ce4f8c-a261-42bc-8a66-fd1bb69aa763","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The horror sequel "Smile 2" had a successful opening weekend, grossing $23 million at the box office. Image Source Google.com

[{"selector":"#anim-e4042bff-800a-487a-bf7e-626df2f44b4e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0c9a253-2f76-449f-8199-fb8173927564","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5b429dd-e6e7-4283-b8f3-4fe1dab46e2a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The independent film "Anora" has generated buzz and is expected to be a contender in the upcoming awards season. Image Source Google.com

[{"selector":"#anim-25603da4-4363-45d3-840c-d070b8db7a8b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c921de27-0b76-4367-92d0-741bf98bb4b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3853d160-381c-4e0b-a8d6-ffcb6e67074e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Both "Smile 2" and "Anora" faced competition from other films released this weekend. Image Source Google.com

[{"selector":"#anim-aa4bf5c3-1817-4a4d-9e14-18ee6743d685","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9caaca32-ab48-4c1a-b81a-8d3df63f2608","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32d31f33-2478-48ff-91f4-e0095219c9c1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The strong performance of "Smile 2" continues the trend of successful horror films at the box office. Image Source Google.com

[{"selector":"#anim-df077b46-6c90-45b0-9fb6-12c5ad51fca3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eccaf320-96b4-4a10-be93-1e3edd846bd3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34618319-8868-4c08-a038-a7023f6b181f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] "Anora's" entrance into the awards race highlights the growing recognition of independent films. Image Source Google.com

[{"selector":"#anim-243138b3-da46-4a13-a04a-97f4c5d3d4f4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-abb758ac-998e-43ab-b4be-183cd4a57e2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f38dd898-3e98-4f13-949d-137cab9e7b4d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The films' performances indicate audience interest in both horror and independent cinema. Image Source Google.com

[{"selector":"#anim-7054145b-7051-48a0-b444-ecd5831e74ef","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-366d73cb-c6b3-4b5b-88ed-dfb940ed5541","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c790a00a-46c0-4a52-9336-10bf4cf4bfaf","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The long-term success of "Smile 2" and "Anora" will depend on audience word-of-mouth and critical reception. Image Source Google.com

[{"selector":"#anim-69e3e2b5-f3fb-4a5d-a2f5-2e1722a9758b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b150f30-ec57-4d2a-a8eb-b36282fd5470","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c48e5104-5182-4d91-9aa6-af22fca9377c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The potential impact of "Anora" on the awards season will be closely watched by industry observers. Image Source Google.com